Who would be a good fit...scratch that....Who do you want on our roster next year of these potential FAs. Odds are very good we look to free agency for our WR needs seeing as how rookie receivers can be unpredictable.
Greg Jennings
Mike Wallace
Dwayne Bowe
Josh Cribbs
Danny Amendola
Kevin Ogletree
Brian Hartline
Donald Driver
Randy Moss
Obviously the major question is whether Welker will be back, which looks bleak, so considering that:
Amendola is the most likely target. There are rumors the Pats tried to trade for him last year with their Josh McD connection. The question is what his market value would be. I could see them paying him something similar to what they offered Welker, since Amendola is younger. I don't agree with this decision, but I don't have the info they have. Seems to me like Wes has 2-3 good years and is little risk.
I think you can take Wallace and Jennings off the board, as they'll be too expensive. They will be shown the bank.
I think you can also take Bowe off the board. Attitude problems in KC; highly doubt he gets a glowing recommendation from Pioli, Crennel, etc. Good talent, probably not worth the contract he'll end up getting from a desperate team.
Cribbs? No way. Completely reliant on speed and no longer young. Those guys go quickly. If Edelman comes back healthy, I'd rather have him for punt returns and a gadget receiver.
Driver and Moss are both old. No sense in Moss coming back, since the Pats obviously do not want him. Driver is a potential 3rd WR bust who gets cut in training camp like the rest of them over the years.
Not sure about Ogletree or Harline... I guess you could say "if the price is right."
Obviously, the Pats will need to re-sign or replace Welker, but contrary to popular opinion, I think they'd be okay with Lloyd and some average #2 out there to go along with Gronknandez. Would not longer be record setting, but they'd still be good.